Chapter 10 - Gloria attacks back
Gloria hired a lawyer named Peter Caldwell.
Good lawyer.
Annoying because he was good.
Their position:
Natalie had interfered with a lawful guardianship.
The closet was a temporary behavioral safety space.
Lizzy was never physically injured there.
The prolonged duration resulted from a misunderstanding between Gloria and Walt.
Natalie exploited one incident to pursue custody.
Financial allegations were exaggerated because guardian-support funds lawfully covered household expenses benefiting the child.
Then they attacked me.
I had lived in Chicago when Rachel died.
I did not volunteer for immediate guardianship.
I moved closer only eleven months later after switching to remote work.
I visited Lizzy approximately twice monthly plus holidays.
Not every week.
True.
I had once criticized Gloria’s strict parenting in a family text.
True.
I had told Rachel years earlier:
“If Mom ever raises my child, arrest me.”
Dark joke at Thanksgiving.
Now evidence.
I hated seeing it in a legal filing.
Gloria’s lawyer argued I had longstanding hostility toward her.
Also true.
None of that answered the locked closet.
But courts consider credibility and motives.
Rebecca said:
“Do not panic because an opposing lawyer found facts.”
“He makes me sound like I abandoned Lizzy.”
“You didn’t.”
“I didn’t take guardianship.”
“Because another suitable relative was available and you lived two states away.”
“Now they’re saying I wanted this.”
“Then let them say it.”
May you like
I was learning that not every accusation requires immediate emotional correction.
Slowly.
